Lactating Men

It has been proven time and time again thrughout history that men can lactate under the proper circumstances or when given the proper hormones (prolactin mainly), so that is not the debate issue here.

What I am wondering is how you feel about men lactating in general, how would you feel seeing a man nurse his child in public vs. a woman? How would you feel if your man decided HE wanted to take prolactin injections in order to breastfeed your child?

Personally, while I find it incredibly fascinating that men can lactate, and I would like to think I would be supportive of my husband if he decided to nurse our child, I would be uncomfortable with it as my body is meant to lactate right away, not under "special circumstances". If I saw a man nursing in public, I would probably have to ask him a million questions and still find it awkward I think! I'm really not sure what to think of men breastfeeding! On the one hand, I think it's great for a gay couple (but I think I would find it more acceptable to choose formula instead), or in a situation where the wife dies (but again, I'm not sure I wouldn't expect/want him to choose formula instead) and obviously if there was absolutely no other way to feed the child, but for non-emergency reasons, it weirds me out and I'm not quite sure why.

In the middle of the night when I was up AGAIN feeding my daughter or pumping, I could have easily been convinced that this is a great idea. But now that I have been properly rested and de-hormonized I wouldn't want to share. And the hair...yuck!

No offense to men and no offense to making it easier on women, but that just sounds wrong. I could not imagine seeing a man breast feeding. Yeah and it would just be another thing a man wouldn't want to do anyways.

But imagine how much women's rights would improve if they could! No fighting for the right to nurse in public (because we know men can go topless and no one cares) and men would then understand the need for longer/better maternity rights.

All in all, I'm glad men can't do it naturally. I like being a woman and birthin' and takin' care of the babies is one of the things I like about being a woman. Not saying that men shouldn't help out as much as possible...

TBH I don't think my husband would want to anyways...surely the hormones would make him develop boobs and that's not really conducive to a masculine figure for a child, neither does it look normal lol!

Men weren't meant to breastfeed in the same way they weren't meant to give birth. If some men want to do this then I suggest they find a way for men to give birth too as one comes with the other in tow lol!

I am certainly not going to disagree that 99% of men would never even be willing to have a lengthy discussion about the topic! But, it makes me feel a little better that I'm not the only one who would be weirded out, no matter how supportive I would *want* to be!

It did make me think though, I'm having twins and want to breastfeed...how nice would it be if my hubby would take up the role for one baby! lol I won't ask that question until I'm ready to accept a divorce! lmbo

i too want to be supportive, but i can't get the weirdness out of my mind. not to mention it would take a man who can go through a hell of a lot of hassle, just to be made fun of. if he wants to put himself through it, then by god, i gotta respect that, but it weirds me out.

Couldn't agree more (with Jodi A). Men in their right minds would NEVER want to BF. They're glad they don't have to deal with the pain of childbirth, so why would they want to share the pain of the BFing?? Also, I just don't like the idea of it.. It just seems kind of creepy when it's supposed to be a woman's job.

Jodi K - like you, I'd like to think I'd be supportive of it, but if actually presented with my partner breastfeeding, I have no idea how I would feel. I do think it is a great option to have for all of the scenarios you mentioned though.

Well, that's how my husband feels about it, Jodi! We talked about it once, when I saw an article about some Swedish guy (I think he was Swedish) who was trying to lactate so he could breastfeed his next child. My husband's response was essentially, "when hell freezes over!" I'm not really comfortable with the idea. It's probably sexist or selfish of me, but breastfeeding is not something I'm willing to share with my husband. Pumping and letting him bottle-feed, sure, but breastfeeding, no, that's my territory. That may not be a popular view, but it's the way I feel.But, maybe I would feel differently if I couldn't breastfeed...